A three-day skill development training program was organized for the staff of the Forest Division Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC), Dehradun, from July 8th to 10th, 2024. The program was sponsored by the Uttarakhand State Forest Department.
Dr. M. Madhu, Director of IISWC, inaugurated the program on July 8th, 2024. He spoke about the importance of forests and the necessity of protecting forest resources in India, emphasizing the ecological benefits of trees and encouraging participants to promote plantations wherever possible.
Dr. Jagmohan Singh Tomar, Principal Scientist and Head of the Plant Science Division at IISWC, welcomed the participants and highlighted the value of agroforestry and planting native tree species to combat the challenges posed by climate change, thereby securing livelihoods. He delivered a lecture on an integrated farming system based on agroforestry to enhance income through the cultivation of aromatic grasses, particularly lemongrass, on degraded soil.
Dr. M. Muruganandam, Principal Scientist and Head of the PME & KM Unit at IISWC, discussed the existing linkages between forests, aquatic resources, and rivers. He explained the significance of forests for livelihood and food production and explored the potential of Integrated Farming Systems in the Central Himalayas.
Dr. PR Ojasvi, Principal Scientist, discussed water harvesting structures for moisture conservation in forest areas. Dr. Bankey Bihari, Principal Scientist, presented on watershed management and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts for forest resource development. Dr. Vibha Singhal, Principal Scientist, discussed a medicinal plant-based agroforestry strategy for livelihood security, while Dr. Rajesh Kaushal, Principal Scientist, elaborated on bamboo cultivation for natural resource management.
Dr. Ramanjeet Singh, Senior Scientist in Agronomy, discussed how advanced agricultural techniques can improve output in hilly regions. Dr. Anupam Barh, Scientist, delivered a lecture on enhancing farmer income through mushroom cultivation. Dr. Deepak Singh, Scientist, highlighted engineering structures for soil and water conservation. Shri Ankit Shah, Secretary of Prakritik India, spoke about the necessity of skill development for rural craftsmen who use bamboo and ringal for livelihood stability.
Participants went on a field trip to the Selaqui research farm, where they learned about various soil and water conservation measures and planting techniques. As part of the " Ek Podha Maa Ke Naam" tree planting scheme, they planted over 100 saplings. Students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Shankarpur, and Sarv Kalyan Vikas Samiti also benefited from the plantation drive and the training.
This training program was attended by 24 forest guards from the Mussoorie Forest Division's Jaunpur, Bhadrigad, Devalsari, and Campti ranges. Dr. Anupam Barh coordinated the program.
